Thanko unveiled a new camera that has all the touches and edges of a standard SLR camera, except that it is scaled in a size that is a lot lower than what you'd normally expect.

When was the last time you heard the words "pocket" and "SLR" come together in a single term? Probably never. Thanko's new product though, may prove that such concept could exist, although it won't necessarily take the literal meaning you're currently thinking.

The "SLR-ish Camera" (Ichigan Refu-ppoi Kamera) is a camera that, for the average viewer, has unmistakable standard features. It has the shape, the edges, and contours of a standard SLR camera. However, upon seeing the camera face to face, you'd immediately understand why the product name describes it as "SLR-like". This is actually tiny pocket camera, in other words, a miniaturized replica.

But don't dismiss it as an SLR enthusiast's collector keychain, or as a failed attempt to create a "trendy" spy camera, because even though it's tiny, it does function normally as a camera. Depending the type of setting that is used, the two buttons at the top of the camera can allow a user to get still shots or record video. The tiny size of the camera makes it quite interesting to use, since you still have to use it like a normal sized camera, though it's probably more interesting watch someone else use it.

For still shots, it can take pictures with a maximum resolution of 2560×1920, while videos can be recorded at 280×720. Still shots are saved as JPEG files, and videos are in AVI format (unspecified codec). All recorded stuff are saved in a microSD card, which is conveniently inserted on a dedicated slot.

Aside from the camera itself, the SLR-ish Camera also has a few convenient features such as a strobe light and a motion detection feature (along with a "motion detection" camera mode). The dimensions of the camera unit are 38 x 33 x 28 mm, and it only weighs 17 grams. It is charged via USB, and as you may have guessed already, the battery is not removable.

The SLR-ish Camera is currently available at Thanko's Rare Mono Shop, with a price tag of about 6,000 yen (58.5 USD).